The Starting Line - Based on a True Story

Starting Line were just kids when they made Say It Like You Mean It, their 2002 full-length debut. The Philly combo's energetic emo blushed with first-time love and heartbreak, and not coincidentally their songs resonated most with kids in the midst of similar drama summers. Everyone's a little older for Based on a True Story. Kenny Vasoli is still singing about girls in his life and the feelings in his heart, but in 2005 those topics include marriage, long-distance relationships, and "What does it all mean?" examinations of purpose. And True Story takes a cue from the softer touch of 2003's Make Yourself at Home EP, incorporating acoustic guitars, emphasizing Vasoli's edge-of-tears vocal, and favoring busy breaks rather than actual rocking. Although Starting Line have seemingly matured into a more grandiose version of A New Found Glory (without as much fun), they remain capable of a highlight like "Photography," an emo-adult contemporary ballad with surging keys and strings and love-dizzy lyrics ("You're making a small change to the way that you wear your heart/I like it better!"). ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide

Name Credits Benjy King Organ (Hammond) Chris Lord-Alge Mixing David Gold Viola Dmitar Dim E Krnjaic Assistant Engineer Eric Miller Engineer Eric Rachel Engineer, Producer Evan Peters A&R Greg Calbi Mastering Howard Benson Programming, Keyboards, Producer Jonathan Nicholson Drum Technician Josh Rothstein Photography Keith Nelson Guitar Technician Ken Vasoli Wurlitzer, Piano, Glockenspiel, Vocals, Bass, Group Member, Bongos, Harpsichord, Synthesizer Matt Watts Group Member, Guitar Max Bemis Vocals (Background) Mike Golla Group Member, Guitar, Celeste, Percussion Mike Plotnikoff Engineer Oliver Strauss Engineer Paul DeCarli Digital Editing Randy Nichols Management Tim O'Heir Engineer, Producer Tom Gryskeiwitz Group Member, Drums, Percussion